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Spellbound is a musical project founded by award winning songwriters and producers Paul Thomas and Bobby Moon from Los Angeles, California. The duo have been performing and producing an expanding catalog of critically acclaimed albums over the past two decades. The soulful compositions and Spanglish lyrics create a danceable fusion of Afro-Caribbean rhythms of funk and rock elements.

Come listen to Thomas and Moon talk with Cubana about their new CD Iluminados and their concerns for the environment.

Ida Hendel She was a child prodigy. At 4, she began formal studies with Miecyzslaw Michalowicz at the Warsaw Conservatory, where she won its gold medal in 1933. She then pursued training in Paris and London with Flesch and Enesco. She attracted notice in London when she appeared as soloist in the Brahms Concerto under Sir Henry Wood’s direction at a Proms concert. During World War II, she gave many concerts for Allied troops. Her career was the subject of the CBC-TV documentary IDA HAENDEL: A VOYAGE OF MUSIC in 1988.

And Giselle Brodsky the founder, director and chief artistic advisor of Patrons of Exceptional Artists, Inc. a foundation dedicated to the support of exceptionally gifted performing artists. She is also the co-founder and artistic director of the Miami International Piano Festival where she oversees all music events. Her track record for finding and presenting exceptional artists has been impressive and she is widely recognized as an authority figure in the field of classical musical.

Beginning February through May, Sugar Sand Park will welcome this one-of-a-kind documentary film festival experience. Tickets are $5.00 per film and can be purchased at the Willow Theatre Box Office at Sugar Sand Park at 561-347-3948, or online. Each film begins at 7:00 pm, and the films are not yet rated, so adult supervision is required. To learn more about DocMiami International Film Festival, visit www.docmiami.org.

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This amazing and bold piano man inspires the weakest of spirit to awaken and live their dream.

Mathias studied business & management for 6 years. But when time came to choose a career, he found the business world pretty boring and he chose to pursue his creative talents. He bought an dusty old piano from a recycling center and began playing music every day.

After finishing his studies he traveled across the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia and landed in New Zealand where he lives today playing the piano in one of the most beautiful stages in the world, in front of the mountains and lake of Queenstown, New Zealand.

Check out his website and YouTube videos, this young man is a superstar in the making.

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Victor Cegarra works with a variety of artists, musicians, recording, performing in concerts at small and large venues in the USA as well as abroad. Born in Venezuela, at the age of 7, Victor studied the “cuatro” (a Venezuelan guitar with only 4 strings) Later, he studied guitar basics for some time and moved on to his first piano lessons at the age of 9. At age 13 he went yet to Lino Gallardo National Conservatory of Music to study complementary piano. Once in college, his piano instructors, Olegario Diaz and Marcus Vinicio da Fonceca introduced Cegarra to jazz and Brazilian music. Other Latin styles were self-taught as he was an avid listener of salsa, cumbia, merenge and other popular genres. The next few years Victor became involved with other musicians and performed a variety of styles ranging from American Pop, Latin, and Jazz. After performing, recording, and some light touring, he shared his knowledge of music by educating others. First, as a piano instructor for the Torrance Dept of Parks & Recreation, teaching children and adults. Later, as a regular Elementary School Teacher for the LA Unified School District where he has been teaching since July 1998. In June 2001 Cegarra obtained a Master’s Degree in Education Administration from The California State University at Dominguez Hills in Carson, California. In early 2003 he partnered with Gilberto Torres and released his first solo project a piano and flute duo, performing traditional Venezuelan tunes with influences of Jazz and Classical Styles called “Venezuela Desde Afuera” Today, you will find Victor Cegarra performing alongside well known and talented Cuban singer Candi Sosa, also with Gilberto Torres and other LA Musicians, performing in concerts, private events, clubs and restaurants while continuing to produce and record music at his home studio.

Beginning with Spellbound in 1996, a succession of nationally distributed CDs were released on their Selfish Record label. 2007 Spellbound released Poolside Fiesta, and their first-ever video, Hot Sauce. 2008 Their eclectic recording, Brighter Days Ahead, featuring salsa veteran Johnny Polanco and legendary jazz saxophonist Plas Johnson. Co-founder Paul released Take Two and followed-up to his Pablo solo debut. Frontman Bobby Moon released his first self-titled solo album. In 2010 United Front was polished, detailed and release in March 2010. And almost 3 Years in the making at their Tripsville Studio, their current CD – Iluminados.

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Danae began her career at the tender age of four, performing in Cuban Television and Theatrical programs. At age 18 she joined the band “Azucar”. Being a part of the Azucar allowed Danae to further flourish professionally, sharing her passion for music touring throughout Latin America and Europe .

Danae has recorded a collection of songs for Tropical Album Filmax, Vale Music Star Disco, “Caribbean Vale Music”, Disco reggaetton Vale Music, a notable Spanish Record Label founded in the late 90’s with headquarters in Barcelona Spain. Vale Music became Universal Music Spain in 2011 and is one of the major record companies in Spain surpassing EMI in music sales. Danae also had the honor of performing with “SPS” An all-female Cuban group, touring in Mexico , Panama , Guatemala , Martinique, St. Martin , Guadeloupe, Germany, Turkey and finally Spain where she decided stay begin her solo career.

In 2006 Danae was the guest star on the National Tour of “LA BATUKA” She has also had the opportunity of collaborating and recording music with famous rapper DJ KUN.

Now in Miami, Danae comes to keep the fire burning in the music world. Looking forward to new opportunities where she can realize her musical experiences of salsa, merengue, bachata, chachacha, cumbia, Spanish pop rock and more.

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Alice Leonz is a singer & songwriter involved in many music collaboration projects with musicians from around the world. Besides working as a recording artist, she also performs in many venues and music festivals in Indonesia. Ronggowisnu is a songwriter, composer and arranger. At a very young age, Ron was introduced to classical electone and classical guitar. As a teen, he was influenced by the 90’s glam rock and heavy metal. During his college years he concentrated on studying jazz piano and keyboard, with Riza Arshad, one of Indonesia’s famous jazz musicians.Alice and Ron may be a world away but they are very much a part of the music scene in many countries, cultivating and nurturing relationships with other musicians via the internet and social media to create musical projects that are unique and unlike any other you may have heard.

This couple is not afraid to tackle any project or musical challenge. Always thinking of ways to give back to the community, Alice and Ron joined the organization “Passion of Indonesia.” POI has been in existence and helping the poor and the needy for 7 years by feeding, clothing, tutoring and offering medical assistance to areas of Jakarta, Kupang, Rote and Bali.

It was inevitable for this entrepreneur couple to find ways to help their country meet the needs of people who are displaced in slums, living by railroads or begging for food and money. “Sweet Christmas” album was born out of the need to give back to the Community. With a concept in mind and a few good friends to lend a hand, the project was completed in time for all the fans to enjoy Sweet Christmas melody with our families and at the same time giving back to people around the world who are in absolute poverty.

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Daysi Celia Almirall, a pianist, and a versatile composer with a vast range of different rhythms and melodies. She was born Cuba, raised in a musical environment. At the tender age of 2 ½, she began to play piano by ear, inspired by children’s music and popular music of the times, she took part in a musical children’s program for Radio Emisora Cubana CMQ playing nursery rhymes on the piano. As an international artist she played a diverse repertoire in a unique 2011 Concert in Sweden. She has performed under the leadership of many times nominee musician Dr. Ed Calle as the pianist for the renowned MDC Commercial Music Ensemble. Of late Daysi Celia plays with the “MDC Salsa Jazz Band” under the direction of Rafael Valencia, while also directing her own Band “Daysi Celia`s Quartet”. A precedence on an ongoing evolution in her musical career, Daysi Celia was invited to perform as the Pianist in the band of famous Gloria Estefan`s “HOTEL NACIONAL” Video

Daysi Celia has had the honor of composing the lyrics and music for the Official 30th Anniversary of the Kiwanis of Little Havana, “El Carnaval de Miami”, 2008 of Calle Ocho, recorded by Cuban famous singer Albita Rodriguez, a huge a celebration embraced Miami’s cultural diversity people as they broke out in dance to form one other biguest conga lines ever witnessed thru Miami’s historical street “Calle Ocho”. A versatile composer, “I am inspired to compose Music through my own, and other’s experiences. There are times that I dream Music and wake up, it doesn’t matter the time, I run to my piano place the notes and words, they flow like a river, I fear that if I take a break, the music will fall into oblivion.” Daysi always shares beautiful stories and top notch quality music with Cubanarama and her listeners. The new CD “Piano Navideño”

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HAVANA, Cuba—On the margins of this isolated country better known for cigars and Castro, a vibrant heavy metal scene flourishes. The most iconic stars are the members of Zeus, the country’s oldest heavy metal band. They’ve performed in Havana since the 1980s, when this American-influenced music was officially banned by the Castro government.

The long-haired rockers (called “freakies”) were thrown in jail and concerts were broken up by state police. Thirty years later, rock music is tolerated, but barely. A government bureaucracy called the Agency of Rock controls Cuba’s heavy metal scene. Every concert and every record must be cleared with the Agency’s director of Rock. It’s a sign of the changing situation in Cuba, but it’s also an absurd position for the country’s heavy metal musicians.

To play their music, Zeus and their diehard fans must fight to be true to themselves within the confines set by the Cuban government. “People always listen to the hardest music because it is a way of reaffirming their passion and liberty against everything that is imposed on them,” says Ivan Vera, the guitarist for Zeus. “That, I believe, is the reason for heavy metal.” American filmmaker, Nicholas Brennan, has spent the past four years capturing Zeus’s story and the broader history of heavy metal in Cuba in the feature-length documentary film, “Hard Rock Havana.” With over 120 hours of footage filmed inside of Cuba, Brennan has just launched a Kickstarter campaign to edit the film and share this band’s story. For an inside look at the Cuba’s metal scene, see the film’s Kickstarter page here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nicholasbrennan/hard-rock-havana